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FCC publishes order, seeks further comments

On Friday, the FCC's latest order was published in the Federal Register.

by Aleks Kajstura, December 21, 2015

FCC Order

On Friday, the FCC’s latest order was published in the federal register.

The new fee limits and rate cap of 11¢ per minute for prepaid calls from prison is effective March 17, 2016 and the fee limits and tiered rates (14¢-22¢) for calls from jail go into effect on June 20, 2016.

(For a detailed summary of the new fee and rate caps, check out the FCC’s October 22 press release.)

FCC Seeks Comment

The FCC also published a call for comments on “ways to promote competition for Inmate Calling Services (ICS), video visitation, rates for international calls, and considers an array of solutions to further address areas of concern in the (ICS) industry.”

Comments can be submitted online for docket number 12-375; comments are due January 19, 2016, followed by reply comments two weeks later.

Related briefings:

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  3. Criminal justice reformer Jerome G. Miller passes away +

7 responses:

  1. Our favorite news stories about our work in 2015 | Prison Policy Initiative says:
    December 28, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    […] Editorial BoardThe New York Times, October 26, 2015 Recognizing the FCC for its important step capping the rates of all calls home from prisons and jails, The New York Times Editorial Board calls for the FCC to […]

  2. Sarah Kendrick says:
    January 19, 2016 at 10:49 am

    TDCJ families have more options in inmate calling plans than just Securus! Monopolization is bad business.
    Where as rates are lower they will just Securus will just raise any fees to compensate their loss as they’ve done in the past.

  3. FCC’s next regualtions should cinch loopholes and address video visitation | Prison Policy Initiative says:
    January 21, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    […] response to the FCC’s call for further comments on their regulations of the prison and jail phone industry, we submitted our analysis of and […]

  4. Report asks if electronic messaging in prisons and jails is innovation or exploitation? | Prison Policy Initiative says:
    January 21, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    […] jail visits. The report was submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in response to its request for comments on advanced communication services in prisons and jails and provides the FCC with nine […]

  5. Report askz if electronic messaging in prisonz and jailz iz innovation or exploitation? | Moorbey'z Blog says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:09 am

    […] jail visits. The report was submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in response to itsrequest for comments on advanced communication services in prisons and jails and provides the FCC with nine […]

  6. jessica garrett says:
    February 3, 2016 at 1:22 am

    ive been way overcharged just over the weekend since thursday i was charged 5 dollars for 17 minuts and its usually 7 dollars for a half hour .ive put a hundred dollars since thursday.they really need to get this straight.

  7. FCC, your work isn’t over. Protect families from advanced communication services. | Prison Policy Initiative says:
    February 12, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    […] for-profit video visitation industry in prisons and jails, the Federal Communications Commission requested further comment on the regulation of advanced communication services such as video visitation and electronic […]

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